‘I have a special connect with Ganpatiji’

DNMUM422279 | 9/15/2018 | Author : Chaya Unnikrishnan | WC :541

Says Maniesh Paul, who has been bringing eco-friendly idols home for the past 10 years

DNA eco Ganesha 2018
Maniesh Paul shifted from Delhi to Mumbai in 2005 and four years later started celebrating the Ganesh Utsav by bringing an idol home. What’s more, from the first year itself, the popular TV host has been opting for eco-friendly murtis and inspiring friends to follow suit. Here, the actor tells us how important it is to be eco-conscious even as one welcomes Bappa.A decade with Bappa Maniesh has been bringing Ganpati home for the past 10 years and what’s special about it is that it’s made of mud. “That is my contribution to the environment,” says the singer-actor. In fact, for the first three years, his wife Sanyukta used to create the idol herself. “She is a good artist, but with the kids around, it is not possible fRead full story

or her to do it anymore,” he adds. So now, they buy the murti from farmers in Latur. “My wife found this out when she was looking for an idol. It’s good because it helps the farmers, too,” he mentions. Inspiring friends to be eco-conscious Maniesh prefers to conserveenergy even when it comes to the decoration by using only flowers and lights. “It is important to be conscious about the environment. Even my daughter loves it and tells her friends about it,” says the proud papa, who is happy that more and more people are making an effort to opt for a green Ganesha. “Many of my friends have switched to eco-friendly idols. Even in my building, every year, I have people coming up to me and telling me that they too have done the same,” he says happily.

During Ganpati, Maniesh keeps his door open for everybody to seek blessings of the Elephant God. “People start dropping in from six in the morning. I like to invite everybody and even those who don’t get an invite, are welcome,” says the host. This being the 10th year, his cousins from London had specially flown down because they wanted to experience the festival. “In Delhi, we would not keep an idol, but when I came to Mumbai, I felt I have to. I have a special connect with Ganpatiji. I am a staunch believer in Him and whatever I have got has been because of His blessings. Also, I feel, it is Ganpatiji, who decides to come to our house,” he adds. No diet daysThe actor, who is a fitness freak, and strict about his diet, makes an exception during the festival. “Mine is a Punjabi household, so lunch and dinner are elaborate. I am very fond of meetha, and since my mother is here, I have the halwa and kheer that she makes,” smiles Maniesh. Eco-friendly visarjanThe actor, who keeps Ganpati for one-and-a-half days, is also particular about the way the idol is immersed. “It’s sad to see the idol that you have worshipped, lying broken on the beaches the following day of the immersion. It also pollutes the sea water, in fact, the entire visarjan process (where people are dancing to loud music) also creates noise pollution and traffic jams, which goes against my thought. So, I do the immersion at home and pour the water on the plants in the building compound,” he signs off.

More on CINEMA & ENTERTAINMENT

So far, Anurag Basu has locked in Rajkummar Rao, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Aditya Roy Kapur and Abhishek Bachchan for his next -- an anthology of four stories threaded into one narrative, like his earlier film Life In A...Metro (2007). Now, we have le

After the stupendous success of Simmba, Ranveer Singh has begun prep for his next, ’83. The Kabir Khan directorial stars the actor as Kapil Dev, the former cricket captain who led Team India to its first World Cup win in 1983. Even as Ranveer begins

Kangana Ranaut, who is known for her no-nonsense behaviour and forthright attitude, reveals why the #MeToo Movement in Bollywood is pertinent. The Manikarnika: Queen Of Jhansi actress says that women should be responsible for their own safety and why

Over the last three decades, Shah Rukh Khan has become a household name across the globe. While his interests cover film and sports, one can’t help but notice that despite having such deep knowledge about cinema, the Bollywood superstar has never evi